There is nothing 'western' about reminding the police that it should uphold professional standards in controlling and dispersing crowds, an opposition leader said today.

Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar said it was a shame that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad chose to castigate the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) report on the aborted 100,000 People's Gathering as its findings were "influenced by western thinking".

"One wonders whether Dr Mahathir had read the report of which any unbiased analyst would laud as a balanced, honest, objective attempt to arrive at the truth about the Jalan Kebun gathering," he said.

Chandra was reacting to Mahathir's statement yesterday on the recently released report censuring police for human rights violations at the Jalan Kebun, Klang gathering on Nov 5 last year, as influenced by 'western thinking' and not in the interest of the nation.

He also defended police action at the gathering, comparing them favourably with Italian police who shot dead an anti-globalisation demonstrator in Genoa early this month.

Chandra said admonishing the police for using excessive force or criticising police personnel for their cruel treatment of detainees have nothing to do with western thinking.

"Suhakam was simply being just and humane as human beings are expected to be in adopting such positions in its report," said Chandra.

He added that Mahathir's tirade against Suhakam showed his utter intolerance of public gatherings and demonstrations which were critical of the government.

Universal principles

"Public assemblies that take to task the authorities are not western phenomena. They have existed in every culture and civilisation for centuries," Chandra said.

"Indeed, every religion recognises the rights of the people to question those in authority."

He also said universal principles were accepted only because they were just and human, not because they were western norms or Malaysian values.

"The sooner Dr Mahathir understands this, the better it would be for him," said Chandra.

Meanwhile, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said Mahathir should substantiate his allegations against Suhakam as it was surprising that he could denounce the report without having to read it first.

"Mahathir is angry with the report not because it pleases the West but because it has not pleased him and the Barisan Nasional government.

"His allegations are not only baseless but seem to reflect the mentality that Malaysians are not fit to claim or enjoy human rights although these fundamental liberties have been entrenched in the Malaysian Constitution for the past 44 years," said Lim.

He added that Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's position on the report would be a crucial test as to whether he was prepared to disagree with Mahathir, and whether he was prepared to present a more sensitive response to the recommendations of the report.

Two days ago, Abdullah, who is also home minister, said that he would "thoroughly digest" the report by going through it word for word.

Consider solutions

According to Keadilan Youth vice-chief Low Chee Chong, the government should thank Suhakam for pointing out police misconduct and propose appropriate remedies.

"The superiors of those who have violated the rights of the people should consider rectification, rather than blame the West.

"What is the point of the government setting up the commission when it denies the commission's views that differ from it?" he said.

Suhakam released the 66-page report on Monday based on the findings of a three-member inquiry panel which investigated allegations of police brutality during the Nov 5 gathering organised by Keadilan.

The panel, consisting of commissioners Anuar Zainal Abidin, Simon Sipaun and Mehrun Siraj, found the police guilty of cruelty and human rights abuse.

Forty-six witnesses including 16 police personnel gave evidence at the four-month long inquiry.

'Toe the line'

DAP publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo said Suhakam is not required to 'toe the line' in its inquisitorial process, nor is it subjected to restrictions by the prime minister in the conclusions it makes.

"The importance of having a body like Suhakam is for it to be able to stand between the government and the public, with full measure of independence.

"The prime minister must be ready to accept its role and recommendations. Suhakam is a body established by law. It has a right to be here and a right to be heard without interference," Gobind Deo added.

Reform movement Aliran said that by dismissing Suhakam's findings and in launching a diatribe against the commission, Mahathir is indeed exposing his "desperation and confusion".

"His words betray his own bias, his one-sidedness and his extreme intolerance of any criticism, however justified," said Aliran president P Ramakrishnan.